As a child, Don enjoyed doing anything he could to torture his siblings, especially Donna. As he grew up and became a teenager, Don discovered a love for driving fast. He may have found this love in drag racing, but it led him to become a Texas State Trooper. As a Trooper, Don got to do what he was best at, protecting people. He had an amazing career at the Texas Department of Public Safety where he was part of the K9 unit and Criminal Intelligence/Special Crimes unit. Toward the end of his career at TX DPS, Don became a polygraph examiner. After he retired from TX DPS, Don started his own polygraph business, quickly becoming one of the most respected examiners in the area and state.
Don was someone who would give everything he had to anyone in need, even if it meant he would end up with nothing. He genuinely loved serving others, and if you had the pleasure of sharing a home-cooked meal with him you know that to be true! He loved doing just about everything outdoors. He recently took up kayaking and was recertifying in scuba diving. As adventurous as he was, his greatest adventure and accomplishment was being a dad. He loved his daughters more than life itself. Wendy and Hailey always knew if they needed him, he would be there without hesitation.
He was preceded in death by his father Alvin, mother Dorothy, niece Crystal, and the love of his life Karin. He is survived by his daughters and grandchild Hailey, Wendy, and Wendy’s son Ethan, his siblings Larry, Jan, and Donna, his nieces, nephew, and numerous cousins.
A visitation for Donald will be held Friday, March 10, 2023 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Cook-Walden Funeral Home, 6100 North Lamar, Austin, Texas 78752. A funeral service will occur Saturday, March 11, 2023 at 10:00 AM, 6100 North Lamar, Austin, Texas 78752. A committal service will follow at 12:15 PM at Austin Memorial Park Cemetery, 2800 Hancock Dr, Austin, Texas 78731.
Contributions in Donald's memory may be made to American Heart Association, https://www.heart.org/en/get-involved/ways-to-give; 100 Club of Central Texas, https://100clubcentex.com/; and Breast Cancer Resource Center, bcrc.org.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.cookwaldenfuneralhome.com for the Clendennen family.
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